Head-to-head comparison
Audacity vs FabFilter Pro-C 2
Two of the editing tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.
Free, open-source audio editor that's been the entry point for podcasters for 25 years.
Best for: Indie podcasters on a budget
Versatile compressor plugin with vocal-specific style and a great visualizer.
Best for: Vocal compression
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
Audacity
Pros
- Free and open source forever
- Runs on Mac, Windows and Linux
- Massive bank of community tutorials
Watch-outs
- Interface feels stuck in the early 2000s
- Destructive editing model is error-prone
- No text-based editing or modern AI
FabFilter Pro-C 2
Pros
- Vocal style preset handles speech cleanly
- Detailed side-chain controls
- Visualiser makes compression learnable
Watch-outs
- Pricey for a single compressor
- Eight styles can cause decision paralysis
- Stock DAW compressors get most jobs done
Which one should you pick?
Pick Audacity if
You’re building around indie podcasters on a budget. Audacity is the default answer to 'how do I edit a podcast for $0' and it's still a perfectly reasonable one. Interface looks like Windows XP, the workflow is fiddly next to modern tools, and the recent ownership change rattled the community — but it's free, runs everywhere, and does the basics well.
Pick FabFilter Pro-C 2 if
You’re building around vocal compression. Pro-C 2 is the compressor most podcast engineers eventually settle on. The Vocal style is excellent on speech, the side-chain controls are deeper than most, and the visualiser teaches you what your compressor is actually doing.
Also worth comparing
Or see all Audacity alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Audacity do better than FabFilter Pro-C 2?
Audacity's standout is "Free and open source forever". FabFilter Pro-C 2 doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Vocal style preset handles speech cleanly" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Audacity; if the second does, pick FabFilter Pro-C 2.
What are the trade-offs?
Audacity: interface feels stuck in the early 2000s. FabFilter Pro-C 2: pricey for a single compressor. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use Audacity and FabFilter Pro-C 2 together?
Both are editing tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Audacity for one show or episode type and FabFilter Pro-C 2 for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.